War In Gaza; Mass chaos at college campuses across US as pro-Palestine protests intensify

 

HAPPENING NOW: Mass chaos breaks out at college campuses across the United States as pro-Palestine protests intensify.

Columbia, Harvard, USC, University of Texas at Austin and others are getting swarmed by protesters.

Police at USC are taking out their batons as the… pic.twitter.com/D35wVTCiZ8

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 24, 2024

 

According to a BBC report Police have arrested hundreds more protesters in locations across the US, as protests against the war in Gaza intensify across university campuses.

Some 108 arrests were made at Emerson College, Boston police told the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Earlier, 93 people at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles were taken into custody on trespassing charges.

Universities across the US have seen a growing number of students walk out of class or try to set up encampments to protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

The latest arrests follow others at Columbia, Yale and New York University.

The arrests at USC were made as students gathered in Alumni Park - where the university's main-stage graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place next month.

Police officers in riot gear cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment at the centre of the campus, preventing demonstrators from gathering.

Students received a 10-minute warning from police helicopters to disperse. Those who refused, were arrested on trespassing charges.

The protest was reported to have been largely peaceful at first, but then turned tense with the continued police presence.

As police tried to detain one woman, protesters threw water bottles at them and chanted, "Let her go!"

Protesters gathered around the officers, drowning out their warnings with "free Palestine" chants. Students, some wearing kaffiyehs were holding "liberated zone" signs, banging drums.

Elsewhere in the country, Boston police told CBS that three officers had been injured in the action in that city - one of them seriously, though their condition was not life-threatening. No protesters were hurt, police added.

Students are said to have been camping out since Sunday, allegedly ignoring warnings to leave.

Emerson College has not yet commented on the arrests. In a previous statement, it said it supported the right to peaceful protests - while urging activists to comply with the law.

Earlier, there were chaotic scenes on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin as hundreds of local and state police on horseback, holding batons, dispersed protesters.

Today, the United States is aiding and abetting the destruction of the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/NuS53C4XIX

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 24, 2024

WAR MUST CONTINUE IN GAZA, UKRAINE: US House of Reps Approved Critical War support for Israel, Ukraine

 Russia: NO GOING BACK ON SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATIONS

Photo by AP

The United States' Congress officially passes bill to send $61 billion to Ukraine and $26 billion to Israel to keep the ongoing war steady in Ukraine and Gaza.

Today, members of both parties in the House of Representatives voted to advance our national security interests by passing urgently needed legislation delivering critical support to Israel and Ukraine, and aid for those impacted by conflict and disasters around the world.

I urge…

— President Biden (@POTUS) April 20, 2024

BREAKING: U.S. House has approved a $61 billion Ukraine aid package as lawmakers race to deliver a fresh round of U.S. support to war-torn ally. https://t.co/x2Dpj0YyJa

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 20, 2024

Today, we received the awaited decision on the US aid package that we long fought for. And a very significant one. Our warriors on the front lines, as well as our cities and villages suffering from Russian terror, will feel it.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on it… pic.twitter.com/G6z3PxsOMg

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 20, 2024

Now more than ever America needs to project strength and that we are still the leader of the free world. Congress passing this lethal aid to our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan sends that message of strength to enemies of freedom. I applaud the work of @SpeakerJohnson to…

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 20, 2024

Congratulations to @SpeakerJohnson and everyone involved in passing the crucial aid package for Ukraine and Israel. American leadership is needed now more than ever.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 20, 2024

US House support for $60bn funding for Ukraine is a vital step forward.

If Putin ever doubted the West's resolve to back Ukraine, this shows our collective will is undimmed.

With support, Ukraine can and will win. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/vugDBtxV94

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 20, 2024

🇷🇺 FM #Lavrov:

☝️ We are fully convinced that we have to go ahead with the special military operation.

☝️ President Putin put it clearly how to make our territory safe. He said that we should move back the line from which they can target our territory. pic.twitter.com/aAgvYhGlOm

— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) April 20, 2024

JUST IN: 🇷🇺 Russia says the $61 billion US funding package for Ukraine will k*ll even more Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/7sgmERp2ju

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 20, 2024

UN Chief: "I call on Israel, as the occupying Power, to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank

 

#Gaza: "I call on Israel, as the occupying Power, to protect the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank against attacks, violence and intimidation" - UN chief @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/MTwRnC71Po

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) April 18, 2024

 

On Iran , Israel confrontation:

It is high time to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East.

I condemn any act of retaliation & appeal to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region & beyond.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 19, 2024

3 hours deadline for Gazans to evacuate Southward as Netanyahu Visits Israeli Troops Near Gaza, Fighting Escalates

Israeli Authority has given Gazans 3-hour deadline to evacuate southward, report claims

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visited frontline soldiers near the Gaza border. Israel continues to deploy tanks and heavy artillery around Gaza in preparation for a ground offensive. Israeli continues airstrikes on Gaza for 9th consecutive day. 

Israel forces said Hamas is preventing Palestinians from leaving Gaza.

Large Explosions were seen on Gaza’s skyline as Israel continues airstrikes for 9th consecutive day.

 Thousands of Gazans left homeless by Israeli bombardment as Egypt sends aid to Gaza to support Palestinians.

"Israel is at war" — Israel PM Netanyahu vows vengeance against Hamas will ‘reverberate' for generation

More than 1000 targets in Gaza  destroyed already 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that a reverberate vengeance against Hamas as Israeli forces hit more than 1000 targets in Gaza.

We didn’t want this war.

It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way.

But though Israel didn’t start this war, Israel will finish it."

"Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel’s other enemies for decades to come." Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Israel's retaliatory strikes on Gaza continued on early Monday. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel killing around 700 over the weekend. Dozens of Israelis have also been abducted as Hamas continued its attacks in Israeli town.

World Leaders Congratulate Bennett; Who’s Who in Israel’s New Gov't?

World Israel News

World leaders called and tweeted their their congratulations to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the hours following the swearing in of his new government on Sunday.

The first call was from U.S. President Joe Biden, who reaffirmed his country’s solid friendship and commitment to Israel’s security, followed closely by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who took to Twitter to reaffirm his nation’s commitment to “stand by Israel’s side.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also used the social media platform to offer his congratulations.

“As we emerge from COVID-19, this is an exciting time for the UK and Israel to continue working together to advance peace and prosperity for all,” he tweeted.

 

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab specified the goal of “continued cooperation on security, trade and climate change, and working together to secure peace in the region” in his own congratulatory message.

Germany’s top two officials, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas, both mentioned their eagerness to work closely with their new Israeli counterparts in their messages. Maas even threw in the traditional Jewish congratulations, tweeting, “Mazel tov! Germany will always be by Israel’s side.”

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, who established a close rapport with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that led to an exponential leap in trade and friendship between the two countries, went one better. He tweeted his congratulations to Bennett entirely in Hebrew, saying, “In anticipation of marking 30 years since the upgrading of our diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting with you and deepening the strategic relationship between our two countries.”

כבוד ראש הממשלה,

ברכותי לכבוד קבלת תפקידך החדש כראש ממשלת ישראל. לקראת ציון 30 שנה לשדרוג היחסים הדיפלומטים בשנה הבאה, אני מצפה להיפגש איתך ולהעמקת היחסים האסטרטגיים

בין המדינות שלנו.@naftalibennett @IsraeliPM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2021

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab specified the goal of “continued cooperation on security, trade and climate change, and working together to secure peace in the region” in his own congratulatory message.

Germany’s top two officials, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas, both mentioned their eagerness to work closely with their new Israeli counterparts in their messages. Maas even threw in the traditional Jewish congratulations, tweeting, “Mazel tov! Germany will always be by Israel’s side.”

Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, who established a close rapport with former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that led to an exponential leap in trade and friendship between the two countries, went one better. He tweeted his congratulations to Bennett entirely in Hebrew, saying, “In anticipation of marking 30 years since the upgrading of our diplomatic relations next year, I look forward to meeting with you and deepening the strategic relationship between our two countries.”

כבוד ראש הממשלה,
ברכותי לכבוד קבלת תפקידך החדש כראש ממשלת ישראל. לקראת ציון 30 שנה לשדרוג היחסים הדיפלומטים בשנה הבאה, אני מצפה להיפגש איתך ולהעמקת היחסים האסטרטגיים
בין המדינות שלנו.@naftalibennett @IsraeliPM

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 14, 2021

 The new government of Israel sweeps a lot of new and younger faces into the cabinet. While critics don’t expect the coalition and its one-seat Knesset majority to last, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says his government will have staying power.

Here’s a who’s who of the key players who will be in the news in the coming days and weeks.

Prime Minister: Naftali Bennett: Leader of the right-wing religious-Zionist Yemina party. The son of American immigrants, the 49-year-old Bennett made his fortune as a software entrepreneur before entering politics in 2006.

His early political career includes a two-year stint as Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff and another two years as director-general of the Yesha Council, an umbrella organization of the Israeli settlers movement. In more recent years, he has held the defense, education and diaspora affairs portfolios, among others.

He is the 13th and current prime minister of Israel since 13 June 2021. He served as minister of Diaspora Affairs from 2013 to 2019, as minister of education from 2015 to 2019 and as minister of Defense from 2019 to 2020.

Bennett and his wife, Gilat, live in Ra’anana with their four children.

Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid: Leader of the secular, centrist Yesh Atid party. Prior to entering politics, Lapid was a prominent news anchor and columnist. He is widely credited with being the driving force behind the formation of the Change bloc. Lapid served as finance minister for nearly two years and then as the Knesset’s opposition leade

Under the terms of the rotation agreement, Lapid and Bennett will switch posts in two year

He has clashed with the Haredi community over issues such as Sabbath commerce and army deferments for yeshiva student

Lapid lives in Tel Aviv with his wife, Lihi and their two children. Lapid has another son from a previous marriag

Defense Minister Benny Gantz: Leader of the secular, centrist Blue and White party. Gantz served as IDF chief of staff before entering politics. Gantz allied himself with Lapid for the March 2020 election campaign. After the election resulted in political stalemate, Gantz broke with Lapid to join Benjamin Netanyahu in a national unity government to fight the Covid pandemic.

The unity government included a rotation agreement that would have seen Gantz becoming prime minister in November, 2021. But Gantz’s popularity fell after Netanyahu broke the deal.

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman: Leader of the secular, right-wing Israel Beiteinu party. Liberman was born in Moldova and came to Israel with his parents. Liberman became active in politics, rising to director-general of the Likud party in the ’90s, and then director-general of the prime minister’s office After a falling out with Netanyahu, Liberman formed the National Union, and then the Israel Beiteinu parties. Secular Russian immigrants make up the bulk of his political base.

In previous governments, Liberman has held a number of cabinet portfolios, most notably defense and foreign affairs.

Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar: Leader of the secular, right-wing New Hope party. Like Bennett and Liberman, Sa’ar rose to Likud’s highest echelons before falling out with Netanyahu and leaving the party. He has held the interior and education portfolios in previous governments.

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked: Number two person in Yemina. Shaked was a prominent Likud activist who quit the party to join forces with Naftali Bennett. Shaked previously served as Justice Minister.

Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli: Leader of the secular, left-wing Labor party. A former news anchor and columnist, Michaeli first went into politics in 2012.

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz: Leader of the secular, left-wing Meretz party. A former journalist and commentator, Horowitz entered politics in 2009.

Knesset Member Mansour Abbas: Leader of the Islamist Arab Ra’am party. Abbas will hold no cabinet position, but his party’s four seats will make him a pivotal figure. A dentist by training, he first entered the Knesset in 2019 as a member of the United Arab List, a faction of the Joint List. Abbas broke with the Joint List. Ra’am is the first Arab party to join an Israeli governing coalition.

Speaker of the Knesset Mickey Levy: Member of Yesh Atid. A former police officer and of Kurdish descent, Levy formerly served as Deputy Minister of Finance.

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu: Leader of the Likud party. As head of the largest party not in the governing coalition, Netanyahu will serve as opposition leader. The former prime minister says he will work to topple the Change bloc government.

Netanyahu served as prime minister for 12 years, and also for a three-year stint in the 90s. He is currently standing trial on charges of corruption. Netanyahu maintains he is innocent.

Israeli Netanyahu blasts coalition, fights to survive, seeks defectors to block new gov’t

By Paul Shindman, World Israel News

With an estimated 10 days left before coalition government could sweep him out of power for the first time in 12 years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies attacked Yemina Party leader Naftali Bennett Thurdsay in an attempt to break apart the bizarre coalition of right, left and Arab parties before it can take office.

“All right-wing Knesset members must oppose this dangerous left-wing government,” Netanyahu tweeted.

On Friday, supporters of Netanyahu’s Likud party protested outside Bennett’s home in Ra’anana, angry with his decision to go back on a pre-election promise to never sit in a government with the center-left Yesh Atid party led by Yair Lapid. Netanyahu and top Likud officials are trying to get Yemina members Nir Orbach and Idit Silman to drop their support, Kan News reported.

On social media, the Likud party posted a loop of a nine-second video of Bennett, who is on track to replace Netanyahu as prime minister, promising that he would never serve in a Lapid government.

“I promise you that in any situation I will not sit (with) and will not give my hand that Yair Lapid will be the prime minister of Israel,” Bennett said at the time.

However, Bennett on Thursday explained in a Channel 10 interview that his top priority was preventing Israel from going to a fifth straight election. In return, Lapid also compromised and will allow Bennett, whose Yemina party has only seven seats compared to Lapid’s 17 in the 120-seat Knesset, lead the country first.

The eight-party coalition will see Lapid and Bennett split the leadership duties with Bennett being prime minister for the next two years before handing the position over to Lapid.

Bennett held a private meeting of the seven Knesset members in his caucus, working to convince legislator Orbach to support the formation of the unprecedented coalition that will see right, center and left-wing parties get the support of the Islamist United Arab List (Ra’am) party to give it the required majority in the 120-Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Orbach withdrew his critical vote to support changing the Knesset speaker, that would allow the incoming coalition to control the agenda leading up to a vote of confidence in the new government expected on June 13.

Orbach said publicly “I know who Abbas is, I do not want to sit with him in one government,” and announced that if he decided not be part of the coalition he would resign his seat for someone else in the party. He later recanted after a massive social media campaign by the right-wing demanding he stay true to his convictions and remain in the party, Kan News reported.

Going in to the meeting at Bennett’s house, Orbach would only say that “meetings with the faction are always successful, it will be good.”

Lapid and Bennett want to replace Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin of Likud who is close to Netanyahu with somebody from their coalition, but lacking Orbach’s critical vote Levin remains in charge of the House. Levin demanded the two submit their coalition agreement to him as speaker of the house, which would also give Likud and other opponents a chance to publicly exploit any written agreements for concessions to Arab or left-wing parties that could thwart an expected vote in the Knesset later this month.

“The agreements should be submitted to the Knesset Secretariat immediately upon their signing,” said Levin said. Coalition members fear that Levin do as much as possible to postpone the plenary session in which the new government will be sworn in – thus allowing the continued public pressure Bennett’s party as well as the right-wing New Hope party led by Gideon Saar, who earlier this year bolted Likud in a bid to oust Netanyahu.

The Likud is also trying to convince New Hope members Ze’ev Elkin and Sharren Haskel, both former Likud members who sided with Elkin, to defect back to their home party.

A surprise angle that opponents to Lapid and Bennett might take the Arab angle, hoping that both opponents and followers of Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas may object to any concessions he may have made in supporting a majority Jewish government.

Ra’am, a conservative religious Islamist party, is vehemently opposed to the gay rights agenda of the left-wing Meretz party, which is also in the coalition. Although the coalition agreement reportedly leaves LGBT issues off the government’s legislative agenda to ensure Ra’am support, Meretz leader Nizan Horowitz said his party had to stick its core goal of promoting LGBT issues.

Abbas has faced intensive pressure from within his own party for appearing to compromise with the Zionists, and there are still fears that if they are not careful on these issues in the coming days, any other three Ra’am Knesset members may oppose the formation of the government.

ACIS-M STANDS WITH THE PALESTINE AS CUBA RE-AFFIRMS HER SOLIDARITY!

All in the Mideast: IDF Destroys Tower Hosting Hamas, Al-Jazeera and AP; Violent Arab Riots in Judea, Samaria; IDF Pounds Hamas Commander’s Home; Rocket Kills Israeli Man

More than 2000 Rockets Fired into Israel by Hamas

The fighter jets of Israeli Defense Forces razed on Saturday afternoon a high-rise building in the Gaza Strip hosting the Hamas military intelligence units.

According to reports by 24news and many other sources, the Jala Tower complex in the Gaza Strip is also where the Gaza offices of several international news media outlets are based, including the Associated Press and al-Jazeera.

Reports suggested that the tower’s owner had received a warning from the IDF ahead of the airstrikes, allowing the civilians inside to evacuate.

The Israeli military accused the terrorist groups of using the journalists working in the building as human shields.

“The terrorist organization Hamas deliberately places its military assets in the heart of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip,” the army said.

In a statement issued shortly after the attack, Hamas threatened another major rocket salvo into central Israel in retaliation for the strike.

Red alert sirens went off earlier in the day in the area, with one Israeli killed in the Saturday afternoon barrage fired into the area.

According to reports by World Israel News and AP, turmoil from the battle between Israel and Hamas spilled over into Judea and Samaria on Friday, sparking the most widespread Palestinian rioting in years as hundreds of young Arabs in multiple towns clashed with Israeli troops.

On the outskirts of Ramallah, Nablus and other towns and cities, Arab rioters waved Palestinian flags and trucked in tires to burn in order to create smoke screens from which they could attack Israelis.

At least 10 violent rioters were killed by IDF soldiers. An 11th Palestinian was killed when he tried to stab a soldier at a military position.

Hamas has fired some 2,000 rockets toward Israel since Monday, according to the Israeli military.

 

Most have been intercepted by anti-missile defenses, but they have brought life to a standstill in southern Israeli cities, caused disruptions at airports and have set off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Palestinian rocket attacks have killed nine Israelis, including a 5-year-old boy.

On Israel’s northern border, a group of Lebanese and Palestinian rioters on the other side cut through the border fence and briefly crossed. One Lebanese was killed. Three rockets were fired toward Israel from neighboring Syria, but they either landed in Syrian territory or in empty areas, Israeli media said. It was not immediately known who fired them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would “pay a very heavy price” for its rocket attacks. Israel called up 9,000 reservists Thursday to join its troops massed at the Gaza border.

On Friday, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Israel-Palestinian affairs, Hady Amr, arrived in Israel as part of an attempt by Washington to de-escalate the conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden gave a show of support to Netanyahu in a call a day earlier, saying “there has not been a significant overreaction” in Israel’s response to Hamas rockets. He said the aim is to get a “significant reduction in attacks, particularly rocket attacks.”

On Saturday, an Israeli man a was killed by a Palestinian rocket that hit a residential building in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv.

That strike was the latest attack in an onslaught of Palestinian rockets that began on Tuesday, which as claimed the lives of nine Israelis to date.

The Gaza rocket attacks were accompanied by an outburst of Palestinian violence started in Jerusalem that has spread into mixed Jewish-Arab cities in Israel.

Arabs have launched pogrom-like violent riots, viciously attacking Israelis, torching synagogues, destroying ritual, and damaging property.

 

There were also widespread violent Palestinian riots on Friday in Judea and Samaria.

The spiraling violence has raised fears of a new Palestinian “intifada,” an Arabic term that is used as a euphemism for a wave of premeditated violent terror attacks on Israeli civilians.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that he spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden.

Netanyahu thanked him for the “unreserved support of the United States for our right to defend ourselves.”

A furious Israeli barrage early Friday destroyed a vast tunnel network used by the Hamas terror group.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said the military aims to minimize collateral damage in striking military targets.

Israeli media said the military believed dozens of militants were killed inside the tunnels. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups have confirmed 20 deaths in their ranks, but the military said the real number is far higher.

Also, an Israeli airstrike on Saturday targeted the home of Khalil al-Hayeh, a top leader of Gaza’s ruling Hamas terror group.

Al-Hayeh’s home served as part of the Islamist group’s “terrorist infrastructure,” said the IDF.

Al-Hayeh is a senior Hamas figure in Gaza, and the attack signaled that Israel will continue to go after Hamas’ top leadership.

His fate after the strike was not immediately known.

Israeli Defense Forces Strike Targets in Gaza as Hamas fired not less than 3 dozens of Rockets into Israel's territory

By Associated Press

Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired some three dozen rockets into Israel overnight Saturday, while the Israeli military struck back at targets operated by the ruling Hamas group. The exchange came as tensions in Jerusalem spilled over into the worst round of cross-border violence in months.

The barrage of rocket fire came as hundreds of Palestinians rioted in Jerusalem, clashing with Israeli police.  At least four police and six protesters were injured.

The riots have become a nightly occurrence throughout the month of Ramadan and show no signs of stopping.

The Israeli military said a total of 36 rockets were fired into Israel throughout the night. It said six rockets were intercepted, while most of the others landed in open areas. There were no reports of injuries or serious damage, but the incoming rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern Israel.

The military imposed limits on outdoor gatherings in southern Israel early Saturday but lifted the restrictions several hours later and allowed people to resume their normal routines.

Israel and Hamas, an Islamic terror group sworn to Israel’s destruction, are bitter enemies that have fought three wars and numerous skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 after a bloody battle with rival Palestinian factions.

Although neither side appears to have an interest in escalating tensions, Hamas may feel obligated to act ahead of upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections.

At dawn, hundreds of people in Gaza challenged nightly curfews imposed by Hamas to curb the coronavirus outbreak and took to the streets in an act of solidarity with fellow Palestinians in Jerusalem, burning tires.

The Palestinians want Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, to be the capital of their future state.

Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police on a nightly basis since the start of the month of Ramadan nearly two weeks ago.

The clashes intensified Thursday evening when hundreds of Palestinians hurled stones and bottles at police, who fired a water cannon and stun grenades to disperse them.

At the same time, a Jewish group known as Lahava led a march of hundreds of protesters chanting “Arabs get out!” toward the Damascus Gate. The group, led by a disciple of the late rabbi Meir Kahane, is allied with elements of a far-right party elected to Israel’s parliament last month.

The show of force came in response to videos circulated on TikTok showing Palestinians slapping religious Jews at random. After keeping them a few hundred yards (meters) away from Damascus Gate, police used water cannon, stun grenades and mounted police to push Israeli protesters back toward Jewish areas of Jerusalem.

In all, police said 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were injured.

Dahlan in crosshairs of Palestinian ire over Israeli -UAE deal

Palestinian dissident Mohammed Dahlan 

(AFP); Branded "a traitor" in street protests, exiled Palestinian dissident Mohammed Dahlan is being marked out as a behind-the-scenes architect of the Israel-UAE deal that has provoked fury back home.

He serves as an adviser to one of the Middle East's most powerful men, Abu Dhabi's crown prince and effective leader of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, otherwise known as MBZ.

On August 13, US President Donald Trump made an out-of-the-blue announcement of an accord between MBZ and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to normalise ties between their countries.

The next day, angry protesters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip trampled and torched portraits of Trump, Sheikh Mohammed and Netanyahu.

The picture of "traitor" Dahlan, who is no stranger to controversy, has suffered the same fate in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Now aged 58, Dahlan served as security chief in Gaza but fell out with his comrades in president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party when it was driven out by Hamas in 2007.

Four years on, he was kicked off Fatah's central committee on charges of "subversion". After security forces raided his home, it was clearly time to pack and leave.

He travelled and has settled in Abu Dhabi.

The rival factions of the Palestinian leadership, Fatah and Hamas, have both condemned the agreement as a "betrayal" of their people's aspirations to an independent state.

And they see Dahlan's hand behind the UAE becoming the first Arab country in a quarter century, since Jordan in 1994, to normalise ties with the Jewish state.

"We're sure he was an accomplice and the sponsor of this normalisation," is the firm view of Adnan al-Dumairi, spokesman of the security services in Ramallah.

A source close to Hamas said they agreed.

- Role in deal 'irrelevant' -

On the other side of the argument, a former head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, Yaakov Peri, said Dahlan had not been the driving force.

He has known Dahlan ever since the time they coordinated on security issues in Gaza and the two men have stayed in contact, on personal terms.

"In Abu Dhabi, he has become very, very close to the ruler as economic adviser, one who knows Israel quite well," Peri told AFP.

But "those who are blaming Dahlan for the agreement with the Emirates are not really saying something which is true," he said, although the exile had met with "many Israelis" on visits to Abu Dhabi prior to the deal.

In the West Bank political capital of Ramallah, where Fatah leader Abbas is based, Dahlan is still regarded as "the enemy", allegedly as part of a failed coup against the president, said Peri.

"Abu Mazen decided he wants to get rid of him, meaning to kill him or not to let him come back to the arena, to the Palestinian arena in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," he said, using Abbas's nom-de-guerre.

If Dahlan is planning to return with the ambition of succeeding 84-year-old Abbas, "the least you can say is that he's not welcome", said Peri.

Over the past decade, many of Dahlan's supporters have followed his example and left the Palestinian territories.

Dimitri Diliani, a senior Fatah member, said that Dahlan still has supporters on the ground, but they do not go public.

"Many politicians show support but they will never say anything in public because they don't want the president to hear or they would be out of a job,"

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), however, has a low assessment of his popularity.

Khalil Shikaki, the think tank's director, estimates Dahlan's support at around 15 percent in his native Gaza and just one percent in the West Bank.

"It's unlikely that he would have any support in either place again. Whether or not he is involved in the (UAE-Israel) deal is irrelevant," he said.

gl-na/mib/hc/kir

Source

Saudi Price for Ties With Israel Is Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital, Says Saudi Royal

Saudi Arabia's price for normalising relations with Israel is the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, a senior member of the Saudi royal family reaffirmed on Friday, Haaretz reported. 

According to the report, Prince Turki al-Faisal said this in an apparent response to U.S. President Donald Trump who said on Wednesday he expected Saudi Arabia to join a deal announced last week by Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise diplomatic ties.

Notwithstanding, the former ambassador to Washington and ex-intelligence chief  opined that UAE's decision, noting that Riyadh's close ally had secured a key condition - a halt to Israeli annexation plans.

The UAE is only the third Arab state in more than 70 years to forge full relations with Israel. 

Under the U.S.-brokered deal, Israel shelved plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank, which Palestinians seek as part of a future state.

The UAE said Israel's commitment had kept alive the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel hitherto had no formal ties with Gulf Arab states but shared concerns with the UAE about Iran's regional influence and actions, along with the UAE's role as a regional business hub, led to a limited thaw and discreet contacts in recent years.

The deal raised speculation that other U.S.-backed Gulf Arab countries might follow. But Prince Turki said Saudi Arabia, the biggest Gulf Arab power which has traditionally guided policy towards Israel, expected a higher return from Israel.

"Any Arab state that is considering following the UAE should demand in return a price, and it should be an expensive price," he wrote in the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set a price for concluding peace between Israel and the Arabs - it is the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital, as provided for by the initiative of the late King Abdullah."

That 2002 Arab League plan offered Israel normalised ties in return for Israeli withdrawal from all territories - the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - captured in the 1967 Middle East war, and a Palestinian state there.

In the first Saudi reaction to the UAE-Israeli deal, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Wednesday Riyadh remained committed to the Arab peace initiative.

Prince Turki currently holds no government office but remains influential as current chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

Iran warns UAE that they bear any consequences related to Israel in Gulf region

The Assistant Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, accused the United Arab Emirates of crossing red lines for regional collective security by allowing Israel to have a foothold in the Gulf region.

The Iranian official warned the UAE that it would bear the consequences of any incident related to Israel in the Gulf.

“Any incident that takes place today in the Gulf region, in which Israel is implicated in secret or open, bears its inevitable and dangerous consequences,” he said, pointing out that the UAE and Israel would be punished.

Last week, the UAE and Israel announced an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries under American auspices.

Iran denounced the agreement and its President, Hassan Rouhani, described it as a “grave mistake” by the Gulf state. 

Source: AMN

Israeli warplanes strikes cause massive explosions in Gaza

Israeli warplanes launched heavy strikes over the Gaza Strip early Thursday for the 10th straight days, hitting a number of sites across the region.

According to Palestinian activists, the airstrikes caused massive explosions that could be felt throughout Gaza.

 

BREAKING: Israel is bombing Gaza for tenth night running. #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/YppvjYVjiH

— Mahmoud Ghanem (@MahmoudGhanemPK) August 20, 2020

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a tweet this evening: “Explosive balloons were launched from #Gaza into #Israel throughout the day.”

They added: “In response, our fighter jets just struck infrastructure belonging to Hamas in Gaza used to construct tunnels.”

This is happening where I live and I can’t return to my house in Khanyounis! #Gaza pic.twitter.com/d6gdmXp2m3

— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) August 20, 2020

Tonight’s airstrikes by the Israeli Defense Forces mark the tenth day in a row that they have targeted the Gaza Strip.

The strikes were primarily concentrated on the Khan Younis area, which is located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

After a series of rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza earlier tonight, our Air Force just struck a Hamas military compound used for rocket ammunition manufacturing in Gaza in response.

We hold Hamas responsible for all terror activity emanating from Gaza.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 20, 2020

 

Explosive balloons were launched from #Gaza into #Israel throughout the day.

In response, our fighter jets just struck infrastructure belonging to Hamas in Gaza used to construct tunnels.

We will continue operating as necessary against any attempt to harm Israeli civilians.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 20, 2020

In the 3rd rocket attack of the night, terrorists in Gaza launched 7 rockets at civilians in southern Israel. 6 of the 7 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome mid-air.

In response, we struck Hamas military targets in Gaza, including underground terror infrastructure.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 21, 2020

Palestine Drops Out of Dubai World Fair After UAE-Israeli Pact

Profile Picture

The Palestinian authority said Monday it would pull out of Expo 2020 Dubai, the Middle East's first world fair, after the United Arab Emirates reached a deal with Israel.

"The Palestinian Authority has canceled its plans to participate in Expo in Dubai in October 2021", the government said in a statement.

The show was due to take place in the UAE's most populous city in October but was delayed until April of next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Palestine said this was in protest against the US-sponsored UAE-Israeli agreement to establish full diplomatic ties and exchange embassies, the third such deal between Israel and an Arab country after pacts with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

On 13 August, UAE and Israel reached a peace deal, under which Abu Dhabi is expected to begin the process of recognizing and normalizing relations with Tel Aviv. The deal, negotiated with the support of the US, is expected to be signed at the White House within the next three weeks.

Source: Sputnik 

IDF says airstrikes hit Hamas targets in Gaza after fresh arson

TOI Photo: Damage caused by an incendiary ballon that landed 

outside of a kindergarten in Sderot, August 17, 2020.

(Israel Fire Department)

Israel Defense Forces has said its war planes and aircraft carried out strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after midnight Monday in response to continued arson balloon attacks on Israel, TOI reported.

According to the report, the IDF said it hit “underground infrastructure of the Hamas terror group,” but gave no further details on the targets.

The Israeli Army confirmed that it hit terror group’s underground infrastructure; move comes after Egyptian mediators leave Strip after bid to reduce tensions.

"Recently, IDF fighter jets and aircraft attacked underground infrastructure of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. The attack was carried out in response to the explosion of explosive balloons and arson from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory during the day."
 

לפני זמן קצר, תקפו מטוסי קרב וכלי טיס של צה"ל תשתיות תת-קרקעיות של ארגון הטרור חמאס ברצועת עזה.
התקיפה בוצעה בתגובה להפרחת בלוני הנפץ והתבערה משטח רצועת עזה לשטח ישראל במהלך היום

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) August 17, 2020

The Hamas-linked al-Resalah news reported Israeli shelling in the northern Gaza Strip and airstrikes in southern Gaza close to Rafah city around the disused Yasser Arafat International Airport.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The army said the strikes were in retaliation for a series of arson balloon attacks on Monday, including one suspected of having started a small fire Monday afternoon outside a kindergarten in the southern town of Sderot.

Firefighters were called to the scene and quickly put out the blaze in a plastic closet outside the school.

The blaze was one of 20 fires that erupted in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip on Monday, suspected to have been started by the arson balloons.

Separately, police said a “suspicious item” affixed to a balloon was being neutralized in the southern town of Netivot, after apparently being flown across the border from Gaza.

The continued violence comes despite the efforts of Egyptian mediators who were in the Gaza Strip on Monday in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent a new cross-border conflict between Israel and Hamas.

They departed earlier Monday without appearing to have secured a resolution.

Mediators typically announce any agreements before leaving the territory. But after a day of meetings with officials from Hamas, the three Egyptian general intelligence envoys left for Israel, according to Adel Abdelrahman, a Gaza-based advisor to the Egyptian mediators. They made no declaration before departing.

The urgent visit came as hostilities broke out along the Gaza-Israel frontier after months of calm due in part to leaders from both sides being occupied by the coronavirus crisis.

For the past week, Palestinian youth groups affiliated with Hamas, the terror group that seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, have fired incendiary balloons toward Israel, setting swaths of farmland on fire. Israel, which holds Hamas responsible for violence emanating from the territory, responded with airstrikes on Hamas military sites, banned Gaza’s fishermen from taking to the sea and shut the main commercial crossing into the territory.

On Tuesday, the lone power plant in Gaza is scheduled to shut down because the closure of Kerem Shalom crossing has cut fuel supplies, exacerbating the power crisis and leaving Gaza’s 2 million residents with about four hours of electricity a day.

Hamas says Israel did not honor previous understandings reached with the help of Egypt and Qatar, in which Israel should ease the blockade it has imposed on Gaza since Hamas’ takeover and allow for large-scale projects to help rescue the collapsing economy.

Israeli Air Force launches heavyattack over Gaza

On Friday evening, the Israeli Air Force launched raids over the Gaza Strip, claiming their strikes were in response to Hamas’ launching of incendiary balloons at Israel. The Israeli strikes targeted a number of sites overnight, including the Beit Lahiya area in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Air Force would also target the port west of Khan Younis, as they fired a number of missiles toward this coastal area. Local Palestinian activists reported heavy damage to several buildings in the Gaza Strip, while also confirming the hospitalization of a three-year-old girl from the Al-Bureij Camp.

The young girl was said to have suffered minor injuries and was treated at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. He also confirmed the arrival of a 3-year-old girl from Al-Bureij, to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, after she was lightly injured.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said their raids specifically targeted site belonging to the Hamas Movement’s military wing. Videos of the airstrikes were released on social media last night, showing several blasts inside the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Air Force has since halted their attack over the Gaza Strip, but the situation still remains very tense. AMN

World leaders praise the historic deal as Palestinian leadership, Iran, Turkey accuse UAE of betraying Al-Aqsa over peace with Israel

World leaders voiced hope Friday that a historic deal between the UAE and Israel could kickstart moribund Middle East peace talks, even as the Palestinians and their supporters denounced the move to normalise ties as a betrayal of their cause, according to AFP reports.

According to  AMN report, the Palestinian leadership called on the United Arab Emirates to immediately withdraw from the “shameful declaration of normalization” with Israel, describing it as “a betrayal of Al-Aqsa,”

The official spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said that the Palestinian leadership calls for an immediate meeting of the League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to reject the announcement of the Emirati-Israeli normalisation.

He said that “the Palestinian leadership considers the Emirati-Israeli normalisation to destroy the Arab Peace Initiative and an aggression against the Palestinian people.”

“The Palestinian leadership affirms that the PLO is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people,” he added.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ‘historical’ move to normalize ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Going by the announcement, it was only the third of such accord Israel has struck with an Arab country, and raised the prospect of similar deals with other pro-Western Gulf states.

The deal sees Israel pledge to suspend its planned annexation of Palestinian lands, a concession welcomed by European and some pro-Western Arab governments as a boost for hopes of peace.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Israel was not abandoning its plans to one day annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank.

News of the agreement was broken by US President Donald Trump, in a tweet hailing a "HUGE breakthrough".

He said leaders from the two countries would sign the deal at the White House in around three weeks, evoking memories of previous US-mediated Middle East accords.

The Palestinian leadership rejected the deal as a "betrayal" of their cause, saying they would withdraw their ambassador from the Emirates.

Following Friday prayers in Jerusalem, worshippers outside the Al-Aqsa mosque walked on pictures of UAE strongman Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

In the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, people set fire to pictures of Sheikh Mohamed, Netanyahu and Trump.

In Ramallah in the West Bank, Jihad Hussein, said: "The Palestinian people have been stabbed in the back by the Emirates leadership."

"But neither this agreement nor anything else will undermine our will to fight for the freedom and independence," he added.


- 'Full normalisation' -


Establishing diplomatic ties between Israel and Washington's Middle East allies, including the oil-rich Gulf monarchies, has been central to Trump's regional strategy to contain Iran, also an arch-foe of Israel.

Tehran on Friday condemned the deal as an act of "strategic stupidity" that would only strengthen the Iranian-backed "axis of resistance".

Under the deal, Israel and the UAE "agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates", according to a joint statement Friday evening by Trump, Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed.

They added that Israel would "suspend declaring sovereignty" over occupied Palestinian West Bank areas -- an idea proposed in Trump's controversial peace plan unveiled earlier this year.

Sheikh Mohamed quickly stressed in a tweet that an agreement has been "reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories".

But Netanyahu insisted shortly afterwards that he had only agreed to delay, not cancel, the annexations, that the plans remained "on the table" saying he would "never give up our rights to our land".

Among other US allies in the Gulf, both Bahrain and Oman put out statements backing the normalisation deal.

The European Union said normalisation would benefit both Israel and the UAE, but foreign policy spokeswoman Nabila Massrali stressed the bloc's commitment to a two-state solution.

"We are, of course, ready to work on the resumption of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians," she said.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a longtime critic of Israel and frequently at odds with western powers, threatened to suspend diplomatic relations with the UAE or withdraw Ankara's ambassador.

There was no immediate word from regional heavyweight and Emirati ally Saudi Arabia.


- Annexation relief -


The controversial Trump plan, unveiled in January, had offered a path for Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank, communities considered illegal under international law.

The Palestinians had rejected the plan outright as biased and untenable, as did Israel's Arab neighbours, and it sparked fears of further escalation in a tense region.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said he hoped Israel's suspension of annexations under the plan could help realise a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

Annexation would "effectively close the door" on negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and "destroy the prospect" of a viable Palestinian state, he said.

The deal marks a major foreign policy achievement for Trump as he heads into a difficult campaign for re-election in November.

Sources: AFP, AMN

Palestinians Strongly Condemn and reject Israel-UAE deal, call for Arab League meeting

Palestinians strongly condemn the trilateral agreement earlier settled between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) spokesperson said in a statement.

Official Palestinian news agency says Palestinians are recalling their ambassador from the UAE over the deal.

#BREAKING Palestinians reject Israel-UAE deal, call for Arab League meeting pic.twitter.com/NrBW2NTHs2

— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 13, 2020

Earlier in the day, the three countries announced in their joint statement that a deal under the name "The Abraham Accord" has been brokered by the United States. The deal envisages Israel and the United Arab Emirates establishing diplomatic ties, and Tel Aviv dropping its plans to extend its sovereignty over West Bank.

"The Palestinian leadership announces its strong rejection and condemnation of the trilateral agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the UAE, mediated by the United States," the statement said.

It also outlined that the PNA "views this step as an attempt to undermine the Arab peace initiative and the Arab League decision", naming it "an aggression against the Palestinian people".

PNA called for an emergency session of Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, demanding the trilateral agreement to be rejected.

The statement of PNA spokesman also emphasized that neither the UAE nor any other party has the right to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people, stressing that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the only legal representative of the Palestinians.

According to a separate statement made by Foreign Affairs Minister of the PNA, Riyad Al-Maliki, the Palestinian ambassador to the UAE has been recalled after the joint statement from the three countries on their agreement.

Netanyahu says UAE deal start of "new era" for Israel and Arab world, West Bank annexation "delayed" but "not cancelled"

Abbas calls "urgent meeting" of Palestinian leadership on Israel-UAE deal, according to statement

#BREAKING Netanyahu says West Bank annexation "delayed" but "not cancelled"

— AFP news agency (@AFP) 

#BREAKING Netanyahu says UAE deal start of "new era" for Israel and Arab world

— AFP news agency (@AFP) 

#BREAKING Abbas calls "urgent meeting" of Palestinian leadership on Israel-UAE deal, according to statement

— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 13, 2020

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the announcement that full diplomatic ties will be established with the United Arab Emirates has ushered in a “new era” in Israel’s relations with the Arab world.

In a nationally broadcast statement delivered by the Prime Minister, he said the “full and official peace” with the UAE would lead to cooperation in many spheres between the countries and a “wonderful future” for citizens of both countries.

Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel. Egypt made a peace deal with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994.

Netanyahu also said in the broadcast that the Trump administration asked that Israel put its West Bank annexation plans on hold to move forward with the agreement on ties with the UAE.

Netanyahu said there was “no change” to his plans to annex parts of the West Bank. But he said the plans were on “temporary hold” and that implementing annexation would be done with U.S. coordination.

His remarks appeared to be appealing to influential settlers who were angered by Israel’s shelving of plans to annex parts of the West Bank. But they contradicted statements from Emirati officials who viewed annexation as off the table.Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has also said that its deal to normalize relations with Israel was "a bold step" to secure a two-state solution to the long-running Israel-Palestinian conflict.

As part of the deal, Israel had agreed "to suspend" plans to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the West Bank, according to a joint statement from the US, UAE and Israel tweeted by US President Donald Trump.

"Most countries will see this as a bold step to secure a two-state solution, allowing time for negotiations," the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told a press conference.

Asked when the two countries will open embassies, he said he did not want to speculate on the timeframe "but it is definitely not a long time."

The landmark deal makes the UAE the third nation in the Arab world to have full diplomatic relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.

The Palestinians expressed anger over the announcement and the official Palestinian broadcaster Palestine TV reported Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called an urgent meeting of his top leadership to discuss the agreement and determine a position on it.

For the Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, it marked both a win and setback. While the deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.

“Israel got rewarded for not declaring openly what it’s been doing to Palestine illegally & persistently since the beginning of the occupation,” senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi tweeted. She also said the UAE has come forward with its “secret dealings/normalization with Israel.”

“Please don’t do us a favor. We are nobody’s fig leaf!” she wrote.

The militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called the deal by the Emiratis “a stabbing in the back of our people.”

A nigerian former minister, Femi Fani Kayode sees The peace deal between Israel & UAE, brokered by @realDonaldTrump as historic. I pray that other Arab states will tread the same path. Bridge-building & mutual respect is the only way to avoid conflict.

The peace deal between Israel & UAE, brokered by @realDonaldTrump, is historic. I pray that other Arab states will tread the same path. Bridge-building & mutual respect is the only way to avoid conflict. The leaders of these two nations have displayed statesmanship & courage.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) August 13, 2020

Others also tweeted:

 

In phone call, I congratulated #UAE FM @ABZayed on historic agreement to normalize relations with #Israel. We also discussed regional developments.

— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) August 13, 2020

I congratulate PM @netanyahu on the two great achievements of #peace with the United Arab Emirates and for effectively cancelling the annexation plan. The two actions are important for the security of the State of @Israel. pic.twitter.com/RxmG4KNdm2

— Mayor of Tel Aviv (@MayorOfTelAviv) August 13, 2020

According to Washington Post report, abandoning its annexation plan changes little on the ground. Israel already holds overall control of the West Bank and continues to expand its settlements there, while granting the Palestinians autonomy in a series of disconnected enclaves. Some 500,000 Israelis live in the rapidly expanding West Bank settlements.

Next year, Israel will take part in the UAE’s delayed Expo 2020, the world’s fair in Dubai. A secret synagogue also draws practicing Jews in Dubai. The UAE also has announced plans to build the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which will house a mosque, a church and a synagogue.

Israelis traveling with Western passports routinely enter the UAE without a problem, though one still can’t make a phone call between the two countries. Israelis also work in Dubai’s gold and diamond trade as well.

Emirati officials also have allowed Israeli officials to visit and the Israeli national anthem was played after an athlete won gold in an Abu Dhabi judo tournament. Israel also has a small mission representing its interests at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.